Papi's Empanadas is the story of an immigrant from Argentina striving to give his three daughters a better life, one empanada at a time.
Papi's Empanadas became his full-time passion in 2019, serving up hand-crafted empanadas, healthy green smoothies and other wholesome meals.
Nelo with his daughters
Nelo moved to Honolulu from New York City with his Hawaii-born wife in 2011. He began selling empanadas at local farmers markets in 2015 as a side gig to help pay for private school tuition for his children.
Papi's Empanadas became his full-time passion in 2019, serving up hand-crafted empanadas, healthy green smoothies and other wholesome meals.
His food is rooted in the recipes he grew up watching his mother make in Argentina, while influenced by the flavors of Hawaii.